Fotokino

Fotokino and L’Île aux livres (a ressource center for the promotion and conservation of children book of the Alcazar public library), wished to introduce, or rediscover, a number of photographic works for children.

Although rarely found in children’s books, some artists, writers and publishers have nevertheless considered that the photographic image has its place in them and that, in its own way, it allows us to see, question and dream about the world. They have thus chosen photography, some of them favouring its documentary quality, others its poetic force. “Le Livre, l’Enfant et la Photographe” (The Book, the Child and the Photographer) aims to show this great diversity of photographic illustration since the beginning of the twentieth century, by presenting a hundred or so rare works.

In addition to these gems of children’s publishing, original prints by five photographers who, at very different times and with very different sensibilities, have imagined a large number of remarkable works are presented. Images by Dominique Darbois from the famous collection “Les Enfants du monde” (World’s Youth), published by Nathan from 1953 to 1975, are on display. Several series by Tana Hoban give an insight into the work of this American photographer, who explored the world of shapes, signs and colours through images of everyday life.

The exhibition also includes images by Ylla, an Austrian photographer who illustrated numerous books on animals and nature that have become classics of this genre. Sarah Moon, for her part, offers a very personal interpretation of many traditional tales, evoked here through the originals of her famous Little Red Riding Hood and her 2010 film Little Black Riding Hood. Finally, the work of Katy Couprie, who mixes photography, drawing, collage and staging in her picture books, shows the great inventiveness present in today's children’s photobook.